- I spent three nights on Royal Caribbean's latest ship, Utopia of the Seas, in mid-November.
- I used Royal Up to bid $100 for an elevated interior stateroom.
- While not guaranteed, Royal Up is a great way to upgrade your cabin on a budget.
I'm not a gambler, but the one exception is on a cruise.
I'm not talking about the slot machines at the ship's casino. I'm talking about "Royal Up," Royal Caribbean's stateroom upgrade auctions.
Travelers can bid for a higher-end cabin, from upgraded interiors to large suites. In my case, it helped my three-night sailing go from windowless to one with a view — albeit not one you might expect.
If you don't win, nothing changes.
If you do, you could save hundreds of dollars on a more deluxe cabin — like me.
My $100 bet on an upgraded stateroom saved me an estimated $250. It was worth it.
I originally paid about $880 per person (including gratuities and fees) for a dual-occupancy interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas.
The three-night vacation sailed roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
I opted for the cheapest accommodation option: an interior cabin assigned by the cruise line. Naturally, I was given a forward windowless stateroom with a "virtual balcony," a TV screen that displays ocean views.
That is, until my Royal Up bet paid off.
I bid $100 on Royal Promenade and Central Park-facing interior cabins.
The minimum bid was $50, while a bet with a "fair" chance of winning fell around $130 to $160. The middle of the dial was $500.
Some bidders online have reported winning with bids $25 to $100 above the minimum, while others said they've never been selected.
I took my chances on $100 ($50 per person)— and it was a success.
I was upgraded to a cabin with a window overlooking the Royal Promenade, an indoor mall-like walkway.
My new cabin didn't have ocean views or natural light, but it was better than no window at all.
For that, it was worth the gamble.
Utopia of the Seas' most affordable 2025 itinerary is a three-night voyage to Nassau, Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Interior, dual occupancy cabins start at about $655 per person.
If you want one like mine — with a view of the Royal Promenade — you'll have to pay $175 more.
Or opt for the thrill of the bid. If you put down as much as I did ($50 per person), and it's a success, you could save $125 per head.
Just don't go overboard. It wouldn't have been worth it if I had bet the suggested mid-tier of $500.
One major feature made the $100 worth it: A window.
My upgraded cabin had a real window (yay!). However, it faced the indoor Royal Promenade, which meant I still didn't have any natural light.
With this came an additional sofa, perfect for perching and people-watching.
Was my Royal Promenade-facing cabin as perfect as a day at CocoCay? Not quite.
In retrospect, I would've preferred a window that let in natural light, such as a Central Park-facing cabin.
But a win is a win.
Royal Caribbean's Royal Up is worth trying if you don't love the cabin you had originally booked. Nothing is more exciting than the thrill of a successful gamble. And if you play your cards right, you could save hundreds of dollars.
In the worst case, you keep your original accommodation. In the best case, you'll spend your next cruise luxuriating in a swankier cabin — on a budget, no less.
